Catch a fly ball - and rising stars - in the same game

About the 51s Minor League Baseball Team:The team's name is a nod to Area 51, a mysterious Air Force base located about 80 miles from Las Vegas. Fittingly, their mascot is Cosmo, a little gray man inspired by the alien lore of Area 51. The 51s are the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing in the Pacific Coast League. From 1983 to 2001, the team had an agreement with the San Diego Padres and was known as the Las Vegas Stars. Their motto is "See tomorrow's stars today," and there's less emphasis on team performance than on seeing potential major leaguers before they become, well, stars. The 51s have made it to the playoffs eight times in their 25-year history. Their chief rivals are the Sacramento River Cats and the Albuquerque Isotopes.

In April and May, the games offer a great escape for the family. The weather is beautiful - though bordering on hot - and the crowd is flush with spring fever. The enthusiasm continues throughout the season, but since Cashman Field is an open-air stadium, the summer months can be a sweltering time to watch a game. It's not uncommon for fans to endure triple-digit temperatures as late as 7 p.m.

Still, the 51s have a loyal fan base and draw an average of 5,000 spectators to each game. Each season also brings with it a number of sell-out games, which often correspond with $1 beer night.

About Cashman Field:Cashman Field seats about 9,000 people and is considered as nothing more than "functional" within the baseball community. Of course, that doesn't stop the die-hard fans from coming out to enjoy a hot dog, which can be about the same temperature as the air on a summer day. There's more than enough parking surrounding the stadium, and the cost is $3 per car.

51s Minor League Baseball TeamTicket information: Tickets cost $8 for general admission, $9 for reserved seating, $11 for plaza seating and $13 for field level. Tickets can be purchased online at the team's website, www.lv51.com.

51s Minor League Baseball TeamSchedule: The team's season runs from April to early September. You can see the complete schedule on the team's website.